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Ireman 8th July

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JUNIOR TAKES SENIOR RECORD!

The Ulster Sprint Triathlon Championship last Saturday was dominated by a young man from Devon, England who produced a devastating display of Swimming, Cycling and Running to win the Ulster Sprint Championship in a race organised by the Triangle Triathlon Club at the Roe Valley Leisure Centre in Limavady – despite being penalised 90 secs. for tumble turning in the pool!  The race was over a 30 length swim which young 17 year old Junior did in 9mins. 16 secs.  He then had the fastest bike split of the day in 32 mins. 28 secs. for the 12 ½ miles on the wind swept Ballyquin Road and his run time was just short of 16 ½ mins. to give him an overall time of just over 1 hr once the penalty was incorporated into his times. 

The ladies race was won by Claire Connor of the HI Elbow Club who had a superb race with an overall time of 1:07:35.  Claire was first out of the pool in her Heat in 10:23 along with Aileen Morrison from the North West Club.  Aileen was second across the line but first in the Female (20-24) category. 

There were 19 sets of medals handed out for all of the different age categories and the winners included Jane Ritchie from Queens University Belfast (25-29) in a time of 1:21:57.  Clare McAvoy Coleraine (30-34; Joanne Calvert Co. Down; Kay Hack, Triangle Triathlon host club won 1:13:56 (40-44).  Catherine Kerr (45-49 in 1 hr. 20 mins. with the Female Juniors being won by Rachael Boyd of the Olympian Club in 1:13:16. 

Second in this category was the Triangle’s Clara Cole Hawthorne in 1:19:17 and just behind Clara was her twin sister Rachael, still recovering from the effects of a nasty bike accident. 

In the Men’s race the (20-24) category was won by Andrew Lee representing both Limavady and Queen’s University Belfast in a great time of  1:05:36.  Chris Speers from Antrim won the Male (25-29) in 1:05:03.  Graham Barr from Olympian won Male (30-34) in 1:05:16.  Peter Savage of Newry won Male (35-39) in 1:02:20; Jarlath Fearon from the North West Club won the Male (40-44) in 1:09:42.  Eamon Hill male (45-49) with a staggering performance won his category in 1:03:59.  Male (50-54 was won by Dr. Kieran McManus of the Peninsula Club in 1:13:16.  Gary Swenarton won male (55-59) in 1:11:49.  The one and only Desi McHenry from the Olympia Club won Male (60-64 in 1:10:10. just four weeks ahead of his next Ironman in Niece, France.  Male Elite was won by Colm Quigley of the North West Club in 1:02:16, 45 secs. ahead of Ed. Cooke from the Hi-Elbow Club. 

There were a lot of local athletes taking part including first home finisher Alistair in 1:13:37; Vincent McCarron  1:13:57; Johnny Goldie 1:18:39; Bernie Gribben 1:20:05; Gavin O’Kane 1:21:49; Chris Doherty 1:22:07 and Linda Tomb in 1:32:49 and congratulations to Roger Mulligan from the Triangle Triathlon Club completing in 1:34:21 in his first ever Triathlon. 

The Club would like to thank many people without whom this race simply could have not taken place.  They include:-

1.                  The PSNI, for providing safety cover on the roads.

2.                   Staff and Management of the Roe Valley Leisure Centre for looking after all of the athletes so well.

3.                  The catering department from Lucille’s for the fabulous and thoroughly well deserved nosh after the race.

4.                  Ken Reay photographer for taking finish line photos of all the finishers – who as a Chelsea fan very much enjoyed the day! 

5.                  George and Mary Boyd of Roe Valley Cycling Club for marshalling the turn six.

6.                  Springwell Running Club for looking after the run course.

7.                  Limavady Swimming Club and a big thank you to the 10 young swimmers who took several hours of their lives to count lengths for 6 separate heats – and who then helped at a Telly Tots Gala for several hours – they are stars and they were expertly looked after by Bill Ely and Claire Wheeldon and Club’s Coach Heather.

8.                  Stewart Tosh from the Triangle Club who was Race Referee.

9.                  Karl Vekins Race Secretary of the Ulster Branch. 

10.             Clause Abbot and his motor bike aficionados who provided presence on the road.

11.             St. John’s Ambulance Service for being there and thankfully having nothing to do.

12.             DJ Ben for providing all those sounds and contemporary music.

13.             Chairman of the Triangle Triathlon Club, Paul Dornan for dragging up the bike racks from Broughshane and leaving them at the Leisure Centre early on Saturday morning and then the tireless work performed by Geoff Warke, Conal Heatley and William O’Kane in setting up the transition area dismantling same and standing out in the rain all day.

14.             Thanks also to Donaghy Brothers for erecting a plasma TV on the wall of the Minor Hall to enable the athletes at Prize Giving to watch the cup final.

15.              

The weather for the event was atrocious and the courage of the athletes is to be applauded.  It was as wet on the bike course as it was in the pool!

The athletes were fortunate to have been served by such a dedicated, enthusiastic and humorous bunch of marshals.  Special credit   to Colin Loughery’s daughter Imogen and son Luca who handed out much needed drinks from Dr. McCleery’s house in the Roe Valley Country Park at the turn on the run course.

The Voluntary sector in sport is often overlooked and sometimes we tend to feel that sport is only important if the participant is being paid (100 grand) a week to kick a piece of leather pig skin up and down a ploughed field.    Real sport is about ordinary amateurs who strive to perform extraordinary feats whilst having respect for their fellow competitors and who are grateful to the marshals, lane counters and stewards who enable them to participate and achieve their goals.